Everything about the Queensland Reds’ first tour of the UK for 17 years is directed towards one date – Friday February 21, when the Reds host Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium.
Preparation for that fixture is all about building combinations, cohesion and confidence. On tour, you maximisie the chance to live in each other’s pockets when even bedtime comes with a roomie in the hotel bed next to you.
Head of Athletic Performance Matt Ireton had given the players strict instruction to avoid sleeping on the Sydney to Singapore leg of the tour, and to instead sleep on the second flight.
The advice was well followed as the group arrive in London early in the morning. Upon arrival in London, the tour started with a swim at Pools In The Park, Richmond where a young Tom Lynagh first learned how to swim. It’s a short walk around the corner from Richmond Rugby Club, where he played his junior footy.
It’s also a short walk to Gail’s, a bakery chain that Les Kiss is particularly fond of. The spinach and feta roll is his suggested pick. Kiss is quick to take some of the staff there, and there’s confirmation that the recommendation stacks up, even if Assistant Coach Jonathan Fisher is a little worried about the 26g of fat.
The day includes plenty of sightseeing and time at Borough Market, before a bus trip to Bristol to get settled into the Clayton Hotel. It’s a familiar setting for many of the group, who’ve stayed here a couple of months earlier with Australia XV, as well as recent recruit Heremaia Murray who travelled here at the same time last year with his old side, the Crusaders.
“One of the best things about Rugby is you can travel the world, and it’s amazing to get to do this with my Super Rugby team,” Murray said. It really opens your eyes to what the world has to offer.
“I loved the trip last year, playing Bristol and Munster, and the Irish fans in particular were amazing in Cork. All I remember is them all singing Zombie, which is one of my best Rugby memories, and the way that fans get behind their teams over here is amazing to see.
Murray’s good fortune started at Singapore Airport and continued with a try against Bristol after he was injected into the contest.
“I was one of the lucky ones to get a row to myself from Singapore to London, I could lie down – I felt like I was upstairs in business class! I’m enjoying spending lots of time with Kalani (Thomas), Dre (Pakeho), Richie (Asiata) and Tonga (George Blake) on the tour. They’ve really opened their arms to me and welcomed me.”
This is Queensland rugby's biggest undertaking to the UK since a Queensland development squad toured Ireland and France in late 2008. Future Super Rugby champions Will Genia, Rod Davies, Anthony Faingaa, Scott Higginbotham, Digby Ioane and Rob Simmons were among the tour party. A 25-0 loss to Ulster at Ravenhill was a stop on that tour.
It is even further back to 1990 when Queensland made a tour of the UK with full cap matches like the tour currently underway.
Sunday saw a big gym session at Clifton College before a bus trip to Bath. Josh Nasser was the unlucky loser of a game of ‘odds on’, a constant theme on this tour and like a game of paper/scissors/rock where you try and guess the same number as your opponent, which saw him forking out £25 on a framed photograph of the Pope at Bath Vintage Markets. Nasser took it with good grace, with Harry Wilson revelling in victory.
Monday and Tuesday saw training intensity rise at South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College, a wonderful setup which also hosts football teams (Bristol City and Rovers) and basketball’s Bristol Flyers, as well as academy players from the Bristol Bears’ boys and girls programs.
The Springboks have trained there in recent times, and it’s been a popular place for teams to nominate as their training base for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Canterbury and Lovell Sport, a big online retailer of Rugby apparel, made an appearance at SGS, filming some fun content with Hunter Paisami, Matt Faessler, Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight, including a UK vs. Australia tasting session.
On Wednesday, a delegation of staff and players headed back to London. Les Kiss, Zane Hilton (Assistant Coach), Hayley Cronin (Head of Psychology) and Pete Fairbairn (Head of Commercial & Content) took in some personal development at Chelsea Football Club’s Cobham training ground. They were hosted by Director of Performance Bryce Cavanagh; an Australian who has worked within NRL, AFL, Super Rugby, Cricket (West Indies national team) and now football (first the English FA, now Chelsea).
Cavanagh gave the group a tour of the facilities, including 28 training pitches, before a number of presenters took turn to speak to the group about different specialities within their role.
It was a fascinating look under the surface of the operation, finished off with some 1on1 meetings with Chelsea staff who could share more tailored insights with the Reds crew.
From there to America Square, London, the home base of BMS Group, the Reds’ Principal Partner. Harry Wilson, Liam Wright and Fraser McReight broke off into groups alongside Fisher, Hilton and Cronin, giving examples of the Reds’ value set and how it could be applied to the BMS office.
The synergies between the two organisations values were clearly on display. The players also managed to get some iconic photographs taken in front of Big Ben in full Reds playing kit, with McReight recognised by some expat Aussies in the process.
The Gullivers Supporters Tour arrived in Bristol on Thursday and joined the team for Captain’s Run, before gameday on Friday saw the Reds record a big win over Bristol. With nearly 12,000 in the stands, there was plenty of Queensland support, including Kalani Thomas’ uncle, there to celebrate his nephew’s 50th Queensland cap.
Finally, to the weekend, where players had a little free time. Josh Nasser led a group that headed to Molineux to watch Wolves in the English Premier League, with many others finding a quiet and warm spot to watch the Six Nations as England were unable to launch a late comeback against Ireland in Dublin.
A busy first week on tour, but an excellent one. Spirits are high, and while Ulster remains the focus this week, everything is geared towards February 21 against Moana Pasifika and playing for points.
